Mie Travel Guide: Sacred Shrines, Coastal Beauty, and Timeless Peace

Mie invites you to slow down and reflect. Home to Japan’s most sacred shrine and surrounded by serene coastlines, lush mountains, and traditional fishing culture, it offers a spiritual and sensory journey unlike any other.

A Land of Sacred Origins

• Ise Grand Shrine (Ise Jingū): Japan’s most important Shinto shrine — rebuilt every 20 years, hidden in cypress forest silence.
• Oharai-machi & Okage Yokocho: Edo-period style streets — traditional sweets, local crafts, and shrine pilgrims.
• Amano Iwato: Cave believed to be linked to the legend of the sun goddess — myth and nature intertwine.

Sea, Sky, and Mountain Serenity

• Ise-Shima National Park: Scenic coastline, forested trails, and quiet coves — a place to breathe deeply.
• Meoto Iwa (Wedded Rocks): Two sacred rocks linked by rope in the sea — symbol of harmony and divine union.
• Mt. Gozaisho: Ride the ropeway for panoramic views and seasonal beauty — snow in winter, flowers in spring.

Food from Deep Waters and Mountain Air

• Matsusaka Beef: One of Japan’s most luxurious beef varieties — tender, marbled, melt-in-your-mouth richness.
• Ise Udon: Thick noodles with rich, dark soy-based sauce — soft and deeply flavorful.
• Fresh Abalone and Oysters: Harvested by Ama (women divers) — taste of the ocean’s depth and heritage.

Wabi-Sabi Moments in Mie

• Walking alone among towering cedar trees at sunrise on the path to Ise Shrine
• Watching waves crash gently at Meoto Iwa, hand in hand with someone you love
• Sharing tea in a quiet guesthouse after a dinner of freshly grilled seafood
• Breathing in pine-scented air atop Mt. Gozaisho as clouds drift below

Mie is where ancient spirits still whisper through forests and waves. It’s a place not of spectacle, but of presence — for travelers seeking something quiet, beautiful, and deeply meaningful.

How to Get There

• To Ise City: About 2 hours from Nagoya via Kintetsu or JR trains.
• To Ise-Shima area: Local trains or buses from Ise Station to Toba, Kashikojima, and coastal towns.
• To Mt. Gozaisho: From Nagoya via train and ropeway (approx. 1.5–2 hours).